Page 186 - Programming the Photon Getting Started With the Internet of Things

Figure A.7 Tip tinner.

You can also use a tip tinner to clean your tip. It is composed of a mild acid that helps
remove any unwanted residue left on your soldering tip and prevents oxidization when the
tip is not in use.

As previously mentioned, some lead-free solder comes with a core flux; however,
sometimes it is not enough and extra flux may be required. Flux pens are used to allow

difficult components to create a better bond to the PCB.

Analog versus Digital

Analog and digital signals are used to transmit an array of information, usually conveyed
through electrical signals. The main difference between the two signals is that analog
signals are transmitted in pulses of varying amplitude, and digital signals are transmitted
into a binary format such as a one or zero, where each bit represents a distinct amplitude.

Analog refers to the circuits in which quantities such as voltage or current vary at a

continuous rate over a period of time. Electronic signals represent information by
changing their voltage or current over time. The signal takes any value in a given range,
and each signal value can represent a different kind of information. Any change that takes
place in the signal has a significant impact on the overall result.

Something important to take into account is that analog signals can create noise, which
is classified as a disturbance or variation, which can be caused by thermal vibrations.
Because any slight variation in the signal can affect the outcome, this noise can have a
significant effect, especially over long distances as the signal degrades.

Figure A.8 Digital signal.